Yes, making your home more energy efficient will help to preserve our earth for generations to come, but it will also help you save a great deal of money over time. When trying to make your home more energy efficient, you should first examine your doors, windows and attic. The next step will be to explore your systems and find ways to make them operate more efficiently. Finally, you may look into clean energy generation, which can include things like geothermal and solar energy
The first step is important – ensuring that your house is well insulated and that the doors and windows are functioning properly. Insulation, though it can be expensive, is really the key in saving money in the long run. There are many types of insulation on the market today and some are more efficient then others, but the trick is to make sure whatever kind you choose is installed correctly by a professional. Installation is more than half the battle here. A shoddy installation job can mean that even the best kind of insulation will not be as efficient as you’d like it to be.
Be sure to check your windows and doors. If they are old and if they can be drafty, then it may be time to upgrade your windows with weather-stripping and/or storm windows. The other option would be to replace your windows and doors with newer energy efficient ones. Replacing windows alone can save anywhere from 7% to 24% of your total heating and air-conditioning costs, according to Energy Star. Replacing windows can be expensive though, so if you are able to upgrade effectively, that might be the most cost-effective route to take until you have other reasons to replace your windows.
If you live in an older house, landscaping can be a key component in making your house as energy efficient as possible. If trees shade your house, you will be able to keep it cooler in the summer. Trees planted to the west of your house will help keep out the sun’s radiation in the summer and the bare branches will let it in in the winter to aid in warming your house.
You should not re-landscape your house, which can be quite costly, if your house is already energy efficient. This is a measure that is most effective on older, less efficient houses.
Another important cost saving and energy conserving measure would be to replace your furnace. This is only relevant if your furnace was made before 1992. Newer units since 1992 have been made much more efficiently, wasting only about 10% of the natural gas you purchase each year. Older units with standing pilot lights are estimated to waste close to 35% of the fuel they use. Because newer units are so much more efficient it is highly recommended that if you have a unit that dates back to before 1992, you replace it. The savings for both your wallet and the earth will be worth it!
Next up in improving the efficiency in your home is to refine your hot water system. This should include regulating your hot water temperature and ensuring that it does not go above 120°F. You should also insulate your hot water lines so that they are able to retain heat in between uses. Finally, be sure to use low-flow showerheads whenever possible to minimize the amount of water wasted during each shower.
Did you know that compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) are 10 times more efficient than your regular incandescent light bulbs? It’s true. Though they are more expensive to purchase initially, what people don’t realize is that they will save you so much more in energy costs that the initial cost is negligible. The cost of using a light bulb is far greater than the cost of purchasing one. A CFL bulb will last up to 10,000 hours whereas an incandescent light bulb will only last 1,000 hours. During their lifespans, the CFL light bulb will cost $22 in electricity and the incandescent light bulb will cost $80 on average. So while the incandescent bulbs may only cost about $0.50 and the CFL about $2 or $3, the savings are far greater with the more expensive CFL bulbs. They are better for the environment too!
Old refrigerators can be a big draw on energy and on your electricity bill. If you do replace your old refrigerator with a new and more energy efficient one, your electricity bill will go down only if you unplug your old one! Be sure that you don’t use your old one as a back-up refrigerator in the basement. Older refrigerator models can cost between $50 and $150 a year to run, whereas newer Energy Star rated models will only cost between $30 and $60 a year on your electricity bill.
There can be significant tax incentives as well for making your home more energy efficient. It can be helpful to get an energy auditor to your home to ensure that you are saving as much energy and money as possible. They will assess your home and your systems and tell you about any additional cost saving measures that might be advisable.